I have sat in many boardrooms as well as holding one on one interactions with leaders. Asked, what top three key skills make one an exceptional talent, the answer is (1) trust, (2) skill and (3) passion as demonstrated by ambition and commitment Are you a person that can be trusted? Can you keep secrets shared with you in your normal course of work safe despite future challenges or frustrations? Do you protect the interests of the company and your seniors at the expense of your personal ego and benefits? Are secrets and intellectual property safe with you? If the…
The end of #Mindset to #Mindspark
“The mindset of our young people is wrong. We must invest more in mindset change.” Why set it and then change? This message is contradictory. It is common for many politicians and technocrats to open their talks lamenting about the wrong mindset of our youth. The word mindset is so popular that yours truly, also fell victim and consistently published insights under a hashtag, mindset, on LinkedIn and Twitter. I was lost. Now I am found. No one should have their ‘mind’ ‘set!’ Only robots should have mindset. Humans should have mind-spark. Continuously be ignited to think and thrive. You…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 3
A good board chair guides the board to provide clear templates and tools to facilitate consistent reporting. This saves the board’s time and facilitates executive training. You want board reports and board packs that are consistent and easy to read. Think of this as international financial reporting standards that guide the preparation and presentation of financial statements. You want the executive to present quality board packs that are easy to read and analyze. The sample boardroom tools and templates are. Boardroom tools and templates The four key tools of an effective board are (a) a clear board agenda, as explained…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 2
A good chair makes sure the board has a charter that clearly defines the practices of the board. It is the primary responsibility of the Chair to enforce the defined board practices for effective governance. The conduct of board members at board meetings The conduct of the board is influenced by the quality of its chairperson. The character and skills of the Chair and other members influence the quality of the discussion. I once served on a board of a professional association whose chairperson was a ‘democratic’ one. For each agenda item, she made sure that each member on the…
What makes a good board chairperson, part 1
As adequately underscored in my book, How to Get on The Board and Be a Fantastic Director, a good board chairperson sets the tone for the conduct of the board business by addressing two issues: (i) boardroom practices and conduct, (ii) boardroom tools and templates. (i) Boardroom practices and conduct of members There is no boardroom which is perfect. But some boards take the inefficiency to another level: suddenly an email pops up from the CEO announcing the upcoming meeting within two days. You find the agenda and board papers neatly stacked on the table as you take your sit.…
What are the special attributes of a good board member?
To assess one’s financial discipline, the central bank, requires anyone nominated on the board of a financial institution, to among others, submit their personal statement of financial position or a personal balance sheet in old speak. The fact is a person who is financially secure is more likely to add value to the organization than one who is not. Imagine a board member who is motivated to attend board meetings because of the allowance paid for attendance? Some profit-making organizations have clear board selection criteria and board member remuneration communicated. Board members on not-for-profits organizations, on the other hand, are…
